Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-10-10
LETTER,
just Issued by His Eminence, Cardina
TO the Church.

Just Issued by His Eminence, Cardinal
Gibbons, TO the Church.
The following letter, relative to the sp-
uroaching Jubilee of His Holiness the
Pope, will be read with interest by rea-
ders of the REGISTER. The letter has not
vet been read in the Catholic Churches of
this diocese:
ON THE APPROACHING JUBILEE OF THE HOLY
FATHRR.
lanes Cardinal Gibbons, by the grace OF God and
the favor of the Apostolic See, Archbishop OF
baltimore, to the clergy and faithful of his
arch diocese, health and benediction in the
Lord:
DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN AND CHILDREN IN
CHRIST:
II is a pious and cherished custom for
children and grandchildren to celebrate the
fiftieth anniversary of the marriage Of the
honored head of the family, and to tender
tn him atfectionate tokens OF their rever-
ence and devotion.
Inspired by like feelings of flIal piety,
the faithful throughout the world are
eagerly preparing TO commemorate the
golden Jubilee of our holy father, WHO,
half a century ago, knelt as a young Leyite
before the altar of God and took ''the Lord
"a the portion of his Inheritance and of his
chalice."
And, surely, dearly beloved brethren,
the rare occurrence Of such an event, the
nre-eminent virtues of our spiritual father,
who is "A spectacle of admiration 10 the
world, to angels, and to men, the promi-
nent mart he is to enact in the history OF
our times; the historic grandeur Of his ad-
ministration, which, like that of Si&tus
v. crowds mOmentOus events into briei
spaces of time; the influence he has
created IN promoting peace between
European powers; the great esteem IN
which he is held by all nations and creeds;
the example of our brethren throughout
the Catholic world in testifying their hom-
aye and loyalty on the occasion OF thus
suspicious celebration; above all the special
ties of gratitude which bind this See to
the august person of Leo Nl1l-all these
circumstances ought to inspire us to sig
nalize the approaching jubilee with more
than ordinary enthusiasm.
For, if ne is so much esteemed by the
cold and dispassionate Judgment OF our
separated brethren, how warm and enthu-
siastic should not our feelings be towards
him, enjoying, as we do, the privilege Of
being called his children, aud daily shar-
ing in his fatherly s%Olicitude, his prayers
and benedictiOns?
The hierarchy of the United States pro
pose TO celebrate the approaching jubilee
by q Joint letter of congratulation to the
holy father in their own name and III the
name of the clergy and city OF the whole
country. As, however, our expressions oil
attachment should not be confined to
words, | am sure | am interpreting the
wishes OF yOur hearts in announcing to
YOU that you will be invited to unite with
your brethren throughout this county and
the Catholic world i'll maniiesting In q
substantial manner your devotion to the
visible head Of the church.
You are aware that no compulsory tax is
imposed upon you TO support the father OF
the faithful, though he has heavy burdens
10 sustain. Yours are free will offerings,
made to the vicar Of Him who came on
earth to rule by love. Your only incentives
are your sense of duty, the voice OF con-
science and the promptings OF a loving
heart.
A special collection for the holy father
will, accordingly, be taken up in all the
churches of the archdiocese on Sunday,
October 16, the least of the maternity OF
the blessed Virgin Mary.
The reverend Clergy will please call the
attention of their respective congregations
to the collection by reading the pastoral on
the preceding Sunday and on the day OF
the collection itself, with such comments
as their pious zeal will suggest.
1t is earnestly hoped that the muniti-
cence of the offerings will be in some de-
gree commensurate with the sOlemnity Of
the event we commemorate, and with the
strong claims which our august pOntitf has
has OH the bounty OF his children.
From the receipt of this letter until
January ], 1888, the reverend clergy will
add the collect pro papa in the mass on
all days which its use III permitted by the
''rubrics."
The rectOrs of churches are also invited
to invest with unusual sOlemnity the ser
vices at the high mass on Sunday, January
|, at which service they will make some
a~llusiOn to the sovereign pOntif Jubilee;
aud, at the end of the mass, or after
vespers, Il ''Te Deum" will be chanted in
thanksgiving to God for the long life and
signal blessings vouchsated to IL holy
father, Leo Nil.
1.-The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and
the charity of God, and the communica-
ton of the Holy Ghost be with you all.
Amen"
JAMES CARDINAL GIBBONS,
Archbishop of Baltimore.
p. j. DONAHUE, Secretary.
Given at Baltimore, the Feast of st. Mat
thew, Apostle and Evangelist, 1887.